Today there is a group going for federal recognition as Southern Sierra Miwuks. They are also called The American Indian Council of Mariposa.

They are basically mainly Paiutes and Yokuts now going for federal recognition as Miwoks. One goal is an Indian casino.

For years there have been books published by white authors that started to appear some years ago with 'new' genealogy of the American Indians who worked at Yosemite and lived in the Mono, Madera and Mariposa Counties.

Today many of these books are published by the Yosemite Association and other publishers. The people writing these books are non-Indians who have been employed by Yosemite National Park Service and worked or currently work with the non-profit group called 'The Southern Sierra Miwuks'.

My uncle once asked a Central Miwok elder whose Rancheria is located just in the next county of American Indian Council of Mariposa, also called the Southern Sierra Miwuks, that he spoke to a "Miwok" called Bill Leonard who was the chairman of the group. The Miwok elder said "You know I don't know that name or that person as a Miwok". My uncle was surprised because this Central Mewuk elder knew every Miwok in the area so he was taken aback.

That was an important clue because how could a Central Miwok leader not know the chairman of the Southern Sierra Miwuks, who were a group seeking federal recognition, as a Miwoks?

This is a group that is claiming in many written articles and books by white authors to be from the original Yosemite Miwoks. Some of these white authors were also paid consultants for Yosemite. Yosemite National Park Service had recently signed an unheard 15 year agreement with this non-profit made up of former and current employees of Yosemite National Park. During this time the non-profit is also seeking federal recognition. The current Chairman of this group is also a employee of Yosemite National Park Service, but to become federally recognized the group has to meet certain criteria to pass the strict Bureau of Indian Affairs, Branch of Federal Acknowledgment. Interestingly many of them are already enrolled in other tribes, but a lot of these tribes are non-casino tribes or located far-away from large populations.

Some elders we know had known some of the leaders of the group, the Southern Sierra Miwuks, who were now claiming to be Miwok Indians. They had gone to school with them and here is a few of those "Yosemite Miwok elders" who are seeking for federal recogntion as Southern Sierra Miwuks. These people below are considered to be the honored 'elders' of the Southern Sierra Miwuks. That is right the Southern Sierra MIWUKS.

Here is a Sherman Indian school photo of a person written in several of these books as a "Southern Sierra Miwuk" elder that went to school in the late 40s early 50s;

Yosemite Miwok Indian elder of the Southern Miwoks. Self-Identified as a Paiute in High School photo. Yearly Indian Census rolls document her around Mono Lake and the eastern side of Yosemite during her childhood...as a Paiute. Interestingly today she is a Southern Sierra MIWUK in the American Indian Council of Mariposa, but when she was a teen she was a Paiute, a Paiute from Mono Lake.

Below is another photo of a very prominent leader of the Mariposa Southern Sierra Miwuks non-profit going for federal recognition. He is considered a 'medicine man' of the Mewuks of Yosemite. He does the Miwok ceremonies in Yosemite and the Mariposa - Midpine areas. This high school photo was taken at Stewart Indian School in the late 40s;

Yosemite Indian elder of the Southern Sierra Miwok group. Self-identified as a Paiute in High School photo. Now Mr. Johnson is reported as a Miwok besides a Paiute, but here is his "Miwok" side;

So the Southern Sierra Miwuk side of Mr. Johnson is not Yosemite Ahwhaneechee Indian, but something else. Remember Chief Bautista was the Indian chief who assisted James Savage and Bautista and his people were afraid to enter Yosemite Valley.

Here is a Youtube video of another elder of Southern Sierra MIWUK. Notice how she is introduced by person in the first part of the video. Della Hern is introduced by the local Mariposa historical person as a Paiute;

My uncle once asked a Central Miwok elder whose Rancheria is located just in the next county of American Indian Council of Mariposa, also called the Southern Sierra Miwuks, that he spoke to a "Miwok" called Bill Leonard who was the chairman of the group. The Miwok elder said "You know I don't know that name or that person as a Miwok". My uncle was surprised because this Central Mewuk elder knew every Miwok in the area so he was taken aback.

Another example of the Yosemite Miwok fable. I enjoy reading my emails from the Frog and others. I like sharing them with people who are interested in the hisotory of the Yosemite Native people. Since I am one I also it is very interesting to me to see what will show up next. One blog was done by someone who read Brian Bibby's book Deeper Than Gold. They decided to review the part about the Southern Sierra Miwuks. They caught a big error in the testimony of Della Hern a PAIUTE elder now claiming to be Miwuk. She described an incident that could not have happened because of the age of persons and the weather.

I was wondering is anyone had any information on how to get myself registered. I am one sixteenth southern sierra miwuk indian from my mothers side. I have asked everyone i know about how to do this. and noone seems too know. please is anyone has a phone number or an email address to get in contact with someone. thank you so much.My email is anajames10@gmail.com